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Intensity modulated radiation therapy allows sparing of the parotid glands when treating head and neck cancer. However, the effect on local regional control remains unanswered.

Materials and
Methods

118 head and neck cancer patients, were treated by IMRT technique either definitively or postopperatively. 21 patients who received either palliative re-irradiation or IMRT as boost only were excluded from this analysis.

40 patients (46%) received definitive IMRT; 14/40 were treated with RT alone while 26 also received concurrent cisplatin based chemotherapy.

Doses were 70Gy to CTV1 and 60 Gy to CTV2 for definitive pts and 65 Gy/58 Gy for post-op pts.

Recurrent/persistent disease was defined on CT or MRI scans or surgical/pathologic findings at the time of surgery for salvage.

Treatment failures are defined as 1) "in-field," if >95% of disease "volume" (Vf) was within either CTV1 or 2, 2) "marginal," if 20-95% of Vf was within CTV1 or CTV 2 or 3) "outside" if <20% of Vf was within either CTV1 or CTV2